Lawn mower



June 2, 1931. F T FARMER 1,808,646

V v I 1mm MOWER 2 Sheets-Sheet -1 Original Filed May 5 1925 I N VEN TORA TTORNE Y.

June 2, 1931.

F. T. FARMER LAWN MOWER Original Filed May 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK T. FARMER, O1DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGN OR F ONE-HALF '10 ROBERT E.

FARMEB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LAWN MOWER Continuation of application Serial No. 28,143, filed May 5,1925. This application med larch 21, 19 28,v

Serial No. 263,256.

This application is a continuation ofmy application filed May 5, 1925,Serial No. 28,143. I I

My invention relates to lawn mowers and amongthe objects of theinvention are:

1. To provide means for supporting the ends of the two end frames of themower substantially equal at all times no matter how uneven the groundis, over which the mower is run, thereby preventing the twisting strainthat is applied to the cross rod of the mower, with the resultanttendency to loosen the set screws that hold the end frames to the crossrod, thus destroying the cutting adjustment 1:, of'the reel to thecutter bar. The sagging of one end frame of a lawn mower due to its ownweight, no matter how slight, is augmented when the tie rod set screwworks loose,

the result of which is to destroy the cutting adjustment of the knives.This is explained by the fact that whenthe end frame-sags, it revolveson the center or tie rod as an axis. The radius of the circle describedby the center of the reel is shorter than the radius of the circledescribed by the cutting edge of the stationary knife; consequently,when one end frame of the mower is pushed. down from the roller end thetwo cutting edges are separated, thus destroying the cutting properties.W

The twisting strain referred to occurs every time the mower is pushedover uneven ground, when the end of the end frames is supportedindependently by a wooden roller. The twisting strain is constant on themowers as now built if the roller is attached with one end closer to theground than the other.

2. To rovide a simple'and easy methodof attaching the roller thatsupports the end 40 of a lawn mower.

3. To provide .a convenient and simple way of adjusting the roller up ordown to govern the lengt that the grass is to be cut.

' 4. To provide means for bringing the tread of said roller into thesame horizontal plane as vided with a lug projecting rearwardly fromthat of the tread of the drive wheels and when the alignment isattained, to permanently secure it thus.

5. To provide means whereby the mower frame has a three-point support,which eliminates substantially all sagging of the end frames andpermanently maintains the adjusted alignment of the cutter bar and reel,thus making practical the use of a'pivoted freely floating cutter bar.The cutting tension ofv the cutter bar is controlled by a tensionspring, which permits the cutter bar blade to freely coactwith eachindividual reel blade and only one adjusting screw is necessarytocontrol the contact of the cut- 0 ter bar blade against thereel blades.

-' More specifically, the device consists of a bar extending from theend of one end frame of a lawn mower to the end of the other frame, theends of the bar being secured to the 'frames as hereinafter described. Ishall refer to this bar as the aligning bar, since it carries thesupporting bracket for the roller which supports the rear end of themower. In the center of the aligning bar, midway between the end framesof the mower is secured a bracket, said bracket being provided withmeans to adjust one end relative to the bar, as hereinafter described,and also being prothe aligning bar, said' lug being used te attach theroller hanger to. The aboveLrnentioned bracket I shall call therollerhanger bracket.

Attached to the roller hanger bracket is a roller hanger. Said hanger isprovided. with a hub, in which a shaft is mounted..- The shaft projectseach wa from the 'roller hanger hub and is para lel with the carryingbar. Each end of the shaft forms a spindle upon which the rollers aremounted and revolve. The shaft bein supported in the center only, whentwo r0 ers are used, one is on each side of the center support of theshaft. Therollers are held on the shaft by 90 I means of collars, one ateach end of the roller shaft, and are secured to the shaft by means ofset screws. I

A practical embodiment of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein letters are used to designate theindividual parts, the same letter being used for the same part in theseveral figures, while numerals are used to designate the variousfeatures ofthe parts, the same numeral being used for the same featuresof the several figures. t

I am aware that my invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential. attributes thereof, andItherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive, reference be' ing had to theappended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate thescope v of the inventlon.

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse section through the lawn mower androller hanger;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the roller hanger and cutter bar, with a dtailin section;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section throifgh the lawn mowercorresponding to the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-'4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the. line 55ofFig.2.'

In the drawings, E are the drive wheels, F the end frames and Y theshaft to which the end framees are secured by a set screw and upon whichshaft the wheels E are revolubly. mounted. G represents the spider uponwhich the revolving knives 7 are mounted and X is the reel shaft,revolubly mounted in the end frames F to which the spider G is securedby a set screw. H is the adjustable cutter bar p1votally mounted in theend frames F to which is fastened the knife K.

Back of the cutter bar H on each tail piece ofthe end frame F is a lug8, which extends out at a right angle to the tail piece 6 and is a 'partof the said tail piece. To the lugs 8 are bolted the ends of thealigning bar L by means of the bolts 13.

To the aligning bar Lis bolted the roller hanger bracket M by means ofthe bolt 14, and to the roller hanger bracket M is fastened the rollerhanger N by means of the bolt 16 and the nut 15,'the bolt-16 beingpassed through one of the holes 20 of the roller hanger-and one of theholes 19 of the roller hanger bracket. The roller shaft Wis secured inthe hub 28 of the roller hanger N by means otf a set screw. The rollersP are mounted on the roller shaft'W and are held on the rollershaft bythe collars R which are secured to the shaft by set screws.

. At one end, of the aligning bar L are two' upwardly extending lugs 33placed at opp0-' site sides of the bar, the center of the lugs providedfor it in being in line the center of the bolt holein the end of thebar. On the opposite end of the aligning bar is a lug 34 and adjustingscrew 34a in line with the centerof the bolt" hole in the end of thebar.

In practice, the mower is assembled and all adjustments made. The aliningbar is then bolted on, the lugs 33 takinga bearing -on the lug 8 ofthe tail piece 6, thereby causing the bar L to align itself with the endframe to which it is bolted. The lug 34 and adjusting screw 34a at theopposite end of the carrying bar permit the drawing tight of that end ofthe bar, without causing a twisting strain on the aligning bar and aresultant springing of the end frames of the mower out of line. In otherwords, the aligning bar with lugs 33 and lug 34 and adjusting screw 34aarranged as shown in the drawing can be drawn tight to the endframeswithout springing the mower out of adjustment.

. n my prior Patent No. 1,122,709, issued Dec. 29, 1914; I havedisclosed an aligning bar connecting the end frames back of the cutterbar and its purpose is to align the frames so as tobring the reel and oner bar into a perfect cutting adjustment a d secure them thus.

Thisaligning bar in gonjunction with the tie rod in the mower w's notsufiicient to pre;

vent sagging of one ,end of the mower frame when using a ound roller suported at each end, When t e ground roller 1s attached to 'the center ofthe aligning bar, themower cuts perfectly the entire length of thecutter.

bar under every condition.

Near thecenter of'the aligning bar and opposite each. other are lugs 17,which extend upwardly from the top of the bar. Upon these lugs 17 isplaced the roller hanger bracket M, their purpose being to form thebearing for that end of the roller hanger When bracket is securelyfastened to the aligning bar L by means of the bolt 14, a hole beingboth aligning bar Land roller hanger bracket M.

The alignment of he rollers withthe base line of the wheels us becomespermanent and is not changed when the fifller is adjusted up or down tocutdifierent lengths of grass.

with a lug 38 which extends rearwardly and beyond the carryin bar whenthe bracket is mounted on the ar. The lug 38 is pro- The roller hangerbracket M is provided thus requiring only one bolt 16 to clamp theroller hanger to the hanger bracket. The holes 20 of the roller hanger Nand the holes 19 of the roller hanger bracket M provide a wide range ofadjustment for the roller.

The roller hanger N is provided with a hub 28, bored to receivetherollershaft W, which extends through the hub, the ends of the said shaftbeing equally distant from the end frames of the mower, the said shaftbeing secured in this position by-the set screw 26. On the roller shaftW are mounted two wooden rollers P, one on each sideof the hub .28. Therollers P may be of the fproportions shown or may extend the width 0 themower. The cutter bar H is pivotally mounted for adjustment, at each end40 in the end frames.

Extending rearwardly of the cutter bar is a lug 41 through which'isthreaded a thumb screw 42, which at'i-ts lower end engages a lug 43carried by the end frame. At'an end of the cutter bar is a forwardlyprojecting finger 4:4 to which is connected one end of the spring.4-.5,the other end of the spring being adjustablyconnected to a lug 46 on theend frame. The coaction of the spring and a-djusting screw servetolerate the cutter bar in the desired position.

It has heretofore been impossible, in lawn mowers of the oldtype, to usea pivoted freely floating cutter baishaving a single screw adj ustment,and maintain the adjusted alinement of the cutter bar and reel, for thereason that the frame would sag, take a; permanent sagging set, and thecutter bar and reelwould not coact so as to cut their entire length. Byusing my roller hanger, I find the frame willnot sag, the adjustedalinement of the cutter ,bar and reel is permanently maintained and eachreel blade will coact with the cutter bar its entire length.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I provide athree-point support for the mower frame, one at one end of each of theend frames and the other intermediate and at the other end of the endframes. Such a three-point support will negotiate uneven ground withless tendency to distortion of the mower frame than in the old type ofmowers which are of the fourpoint support type. When the ends of theframe of a lawn mower are supported upon the ends of a bar-and this barin turn supported in its center by a bracket and hanger carrying rollersthat in turn rest upon the ground, no matter how uneven the ground is,

The cutting alinement of the cutter bar and reel are constantlymaintained, thus permitting a single screw controlled, spring sustained,cutter bar to be practical.

Furthermore, my invention provides a simple method of adjusting theroller up or down to make the mower out long or short, it beingnecessary only to loosen and change one bolt to effect this adjustment.

In addition, my invention provides the simplest possible form of cutterbar adjustment. The turning of one thumb screw adjusts the entire cutterbar to or from the reel at the will of the operator.

While I have particularly described my invention in connection with arear cut mower, the invention is also applicable to a front cut mower,wherethe wheels are at the back end of the mower. I

Having thus describedmy invention what I claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a lawnmower having end frames, an aligning bar connecting the endframes, means for supporting rollers, the said means being carried bythe aligning bar intermediateits ends and means for bringing the treadof said roller into the same horizontal plane as that of 1th tread. ofthe drive wheels.

2. n a lawn mower having end frames, an aligning bar connecting the endframes, means for supporting rollers, the said means being carried bythe carrying bar intermediate its ends, means for vertically adjustingthe rollers relative to the end frames and means for bringing the treadof said roller into the same horizontal plane as that of the tread ofthe drive wheels: i

3. In a lawn mower having end frames, analigning bar connecting the endframes, a bracket secured to the center of the ali ing bar, a shaftsupported by the said brac et, a roller mounted on the said shaft andmeans for vertically adjusting one end of the said bracket, bringing thetread of said roller into the samehorizontal plane as that of the treadof the drive wheels.

4. In a lawn mower having end frames, a bar connectin the end frames, abracket secured to said ar, a roller hanger secured to said bracket, ashaft mounted in the roller hanger, said shaft forming a bearing uponwhich supporting rollers rotate and means for bringing the'tread of saidroller into the same horizontal plane as that of the tread of the drivewheels. 1

5. In a lawn mower having end :frames,

an aligning bar connecting-the end frames, a

connecting the end frames, a bracket secured rollers carried by theroller hanger.

roller hanger bracket secured to the center of the aligning bar andprovidedyvith means to adjust one end vertically relative tothe saidbar, a roller hanger attached to the said bracket, means for verticallyadjusting the roller hanger relative tothe said bracket and 6. A lawnmower provided with drive wheels, end frames supported by the drivewheels and agroundroller during the cutting operation, a rotary reelrovided with knives and carried by the end rames and rotating on .anaxis intermediate the axis of the drive wheels and the ground roller, abar connecting the end frames, a bracket secured t0 the center of saidbar, a shaft supported by the said bracket, the ground roller beingmounted on the said shaft.

7. A lawn mower provided with drive wheels, endframes supported by thedrive wheels and a ground roller during the cutting operation, a rotaryreel provided with knives. and carried by the end frames and rotating onan axis intermediate the axis of the drive wheels and the ground roller,a bar to the center of said bar, a shaft supported by the said bracket,the ground roller being mounted on the said shaft, and means forvertically adjusting the ground roller relative to the end-frames.

8. A lawn mower provided with .drive wheels, end frames supported by thedrive wheels and a ground roller during the cutting operation, a rotaryreel provided with knives and carried by the end frames and rotating onan axis intermediate the axis of the drive wheels and the ground roller,a bar connect ing the end frames, a bracket secured to the said .bar, aroller hanger secured to said bracket, a shaft mounted in the rollerhanger, said shaft forming a bearing upon which the ground rollerrotates.

the drive wheels and a ground'rolle'r during 9. In a lawn mower of thetype provide with drive wheels, end frames supported by of the drivewheels and the groundroller,

the improvement comprising-a three point supplort for the mower frameand consisting for the other end of the mower- 11. In a lawn mower ofthe type provided 16. In a lawn mower of the type provided e pair of endframes sup orted at one end by the drive wheels and asln le support ame.

with drive wheels, end frames supported by point being at the oppositethe cutting operation, a rotary reel provided with knives and carried bythe end frames and rotating on an axis intermediate the'axis of thedrive wheels and the ground roller, the improvement comprising a threepoint support for the mower frame and consisting of a pair of end framessupported at one.

being at one side of the mower frame side by the drive wheel and asingle support for the other side of the mower frame by means of theground roller.

13. In a lawn mower of the type provided with drive wheels, end framessupported by the drive wheels and a ground roller durin the cuttingoperation, a rotary reel provide with knives and carried by the endframes and rotating on an axis intermefiate the axis of the drive wheelsand the ground roller, the improvement consisting in providing a threepoint support for the mower frame, and means 1 for vertically adjustingthe ground roller.

14. In a lawn mower of the type provided with drive wheels, end framessupported by the cutting operation, a rotary reel provided with knivesand carried by the end frames and rotating on an axis intermediate theaxis of the drive wheels and the ground roller,

the improvement comprising a three point support for the mower frame andconsisting of a pairof end frames supported at; one side by the drivewheels and a single support for the other side of the mower frame by thedrive wheels and a ground roller during means of the ground roller, andmeans for bringing the tread of said ground roller into the samehorizontal plane as that of the tread of the drive wheels. 7

15. In a lawn mower of the type provided with drive wheels, end framessupported by the drive wheels and a ground roller during the cuttingoperation, a rotary reel provided with knives and carried by the andframes and rotating on 'an axis intermediate the axis of the drivewheels and the ground roller, the. improvement consisting in providing athree point support for the mower frame and in combination therewith afloating cutter bar 1 adjustably mounted in the end frames and means forvarying andmaintainingv the cut ting adjustment of the reel to thecutter bar.

with drive wheels, end frames supported by the drive wheels and a groundroller during the cutting operation, a rotary reel rovided with knivesand carried by the en frames and rotating on an axis intermediate theaxis of the drive wheels and the ground roller, the improvementconsisting in providing a three point support for the mower frame and incombination therewith a floating cutter bar pivotally mounted in the endframes and a screw threaded adjustment between the cutter bar and theend frame for adjustin the cutter bar relative to the reel.

testimony whereof I aflix my signature. I

FRANK T. FARMIER.

